Junior Elsy Mendoza respects Junior Morgan O'Neal and shows it by looking up to her in a symbolic manner. Photo by: Brandon Heims
By Brandon Heims
There are many role models in the world, and like the people who respect and look up to them, they come in a variation of forms and teach many lessons along the way.
Most commonly, a person’s role model would be someone who is a relative. Senior Samantha Wheat’s role model is her sister. Wheat said, “She was always happy no matter what was going on, and it made me want to be like that someday.” Junior Elsy Mendoza, on the other hand, says her role models are her parents. “They have been through so many things and have maintained strong; keeping their heads up, that is the reason why I admire them so much and consider them my role models,” Mendoza said. Junior Hayley Long said her role model is her older brother, “he has always been there for me,” she said, “I couldn’t ask for a better role model.” Like Mendoza, junior Morgan O’Neal said her mom is her role model, “she taught me almost everything I know, and she loves me more than anyone on this Earth.” Although commonly a person’s role model is a relative, some people, like senior Shelby Harty may have a different ideal. Harty said, “if I could choose a childhood hero or a role model, it would have to be Spider-Man from the Marvel Universe because he understands what it takes to be a hero and how to protect his friends and family.”
Today, a person’s role model may have changed from his/her childhood, but from five of six PHS students, who were asked, their role model has stayed the same. Senior Jessica Cleveland on the other hand believes that today, the person she looks up to the very most is her chemistry teacher, Mrs. Chaney. Wheat said she does have the same role model, but now she looks at her sister completely different, “she has two kids, and she is a wonderful mother, I want to be like that when I have kids.” Mendoza said, “Now that the years have passed [my parents] are still my role models and I wouldn’t change that for anything because each day I learn something new from them and a connection grows of them being the perfect example of a role model.”
A role model is someone who another person looks up to and respects, but there is always one thing that stands out the most about role models. For Wheat, she said her sister is always calm and always trying to do things for other people. Cleveland said that Mrs. Chaney has an incredible intellect, which inspires Cleveland the most, when thinking of Mrs. Chaney as her role model. Mendoza said her parents always kept their heads up, as for Long, who said her brother would always turn something bad into something positive and he can always make her smile. O’Neal, on the other hand, said, “No matter what I do [my mom] will always love me and take care of me. She is always encouraging me and is always there for me.”
When a person has a role model, they learn things from them. Wheat said, “[My sister] taught me that even though sometimes everything might not be perfect, they will always fall into place eventually.” Cleveland on the other hand has many lessons learned from her role model, Mrs. Chaney. Cleveland said, “Mrs. Chaney taught me how to learn. She goes further than just telling you about what you are learning. She makes a point to ensure that you completely understand and she is just so excited about what she has to share. She has not only taught me Chemistry, she taught me how to learn in general.” Mendoza has learned from her parents “that no matter what happens, keep your head up and always have a smile, always treat people like you would like to be treated, do not listen to stupid things that people may say about you just ignore them.” Long on the other hand said, “[My brother] taught me to learn from his mistakes.” O’Neal’s mom, like Mendoza’s parents, taught her respect and understanding of others, “I was taught how to love and not judge and be loyal.”
Many people look at certain characteristics when viewing a person as their role model. For example, Wheat said, “I will always look up to people who are happy with who they’ve turned out to be.” She also mentions that the most important quality in life is to love yourself, no matter what other people feel the need to say about you. Cleveland agrees with Wheat about looking at people, who have a “happy spirit,” as people to respect. Cleveland also said, “I look for excellent moral values [and] sturdy work ethic. I believe these are the best characteristics anyone can possibly have.” Mendoza believes that there are many characteristics to being a role model; she looks at honesty, strong attitude, friendliness, great leadership and a teacher of life as just some of the characteristics that good role model obtains. O’Neal agrees with Mendoza; she said, “I look for honesty and trust.”